The Third Day of the Blessed Month of Misra
Misra 3
Relocation of the Body of St. Simon (Simeon)
the Stylite to the city of Antioch
On this day, St. Simeon (Simon) the Stylite, departed.
He was from Syria and he had shepherded his father's flocks since he was
young. He regularly attended the church. The Grace of God moved him and
he came to one of the monasteries, where he stayed and worshiped God in
great asceticism. He exerted himself with much fasting and excessive thirSt.
Then he tied a rope around his loins until it pierced his flesh, and a
repulsive smell came out of him. When the other monks were offended by
his smell, he left the monastery and came to a pit where he dwelt for a
short time. The abbot of the monastery saw in a vision, as someone was
telling him, "Why did you send away My servant Simon? Seek him, and bring
him back," as if the voice was rebuking them for his dismissal from the
monastery. The abbot informed the brethren of this vision and they became
troubled and they began to look for St. Simeon until they found him in the
pit, without food or water. They confessed to him their transgression,
asked for his forgiveness, and brought him back to the monastery. When
they started to exalt him, he felt that he was unworthy, so he left the
monastery secretly, and came to a certain rock, where he lived for sixty
days without sleeping. Afterwards, the Angel of the Lord came to him, comforted
him, and told him that God had called him for the salvation of many souls.
Then he dwelt over a pillar, thirty cubits in height, for fifteen years.
He performed many signs and great wonders, and preached to all those who
came to him.
His father sought him, but did not find him and
he died without seeing him. His mother, after a long time, found out about
him, so she came to him where he was staying on that pillar. There she
wept greatly, then she slept under that pillar. The Saint asked the Lord
Christ to have mercy on her. His mother died while she was sleeping, and
they buried her under the pillar. Satan became envious of the saint for
all his good deeds, and moved against him. He smote him in one of his legs
with ulcerations which forced him to use the other leg for many years,
until the diseased leg rotted, and worms dropped from it under the pillar.
A chief of a band of thieves came to him and slept under his pillar. The
Saint prayed to Christ on his behalf, and he stayed for a few days, and
died. The Saint asked Christ to supply him with water, and a spring of
water sprang up at the foot of the pillar. Then he moved to a taller pillar,
where he stayed on top for thirty years. After he completed forty-eight
years in worshipping, he departed to the Lord. He preached many people,
taught them, and brought many back to the knowledge of Christ. When the
patriarch of Antioch heard about his departure from this world, he came
to him and took his body to Antioch in great veneration.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of Pope Abriamus (Primus),
the Fifth Patriarch of Alexandria
On this day also, in the year
116 A.D., Pope Aprimos (Primus), Fifth Patriarch of Alexandria, departed.
He was baptized by St. Mark the Apostle. He was one of the three who were
ordained priests by St. Mark the Apostle, along with Bishop Anianus, the
Second Patriarch. Pope Aprimos was ascetic, pious, and filled with good
deeds. He was ordained to the apostolic chair on the 22nd of Baounah (June
16th, 106 A.D.). During his papacy, the church was in peace and tranquility.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.